Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
June 28, 2016

Opposition Leader Mia Mottley believes last week’s British vote to leave the European Union came about as a result of political neglect.

And addressing party faithful at Graydon Sealy Secondary School last night, she warned members of her Barbados Labour Party (BLP) not to make the same mistake, even as she took her usual swipe at the ruling Democratic Labour Party administration.

“The British people spoke out not because they understood the consequences of leaving the European Union, but it was a cry, a plea, that too many people in that country were being ignored, being left one side, being marginalized,” said Mottley, adding, “It is the same cry that we hear from our people here in Barbados.”

UK citizens last week voted 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent to end their 43-year membership of the European Union in a referendum which analysts forecast may have dire consequences for the country.

Speaking during last night’s BLP nomination exercise in St Michael South where Kirk Humphrey was chosen as the party’s nominee, Mottley suggested that all politicians could learn from the outcome of the British vote.

“Understand that whatever else our mission is nationally, it can only be built on a foundation of representation and caring about people.

“It is about caring about people, and [not] this notion about sending personal assistants, or your right hand man to do the job when you have failed to come through . . . . If we ever doubted it, look at what has happened in England last week.”

Humphrey won last night’s nomination in convincing fashion with 232 votes, beating out his closest challenger Asokore Beckles by 162 votes.

Mottley told the professional policy and planning specialist, “this is not a victory to cause you to pause, this is a step to the next stage . . . use this momentum to go house to house, and person to person.

“People understand that you need somebody else to help you, but they don’t expect them to be a substitute for you, they want to see you too,” she said.

“There is no shortcut. The discipline that requires you to be out there with the people has to obtain. Even when you’re not out there with the people you have to be accessible,” the BLP leader advised.

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10 thoughts on “Mottley sees lesson in ‘Brexit’”

Your assertions only sound like mere words seeking to capitalise on the stupid decision of the British people duped by political persuasions under an out of control immigration system they could have better managed. That was the number one fuel for the Brexit decision.

However, if you are going to use that as an analogy, maybe you should consider more seriously why many Barbadians are delusional with our local politicians.

Is it because they want honest politicians, not tricky ones? They want politicians that speak the truth not those who can articulate well-polished lies and excuse coverups while they show the greatest disrespect for the Barbadian people in an insulting way.

Is it that they want transparency and accountability in government business operations or that they want the auditor general to have greater power to bring political thieves and public servant crooks to justice? Or maybe they want proper laws that would make it impossible for politicians to operate above them when they execute financial matters inappropriately.

You can play with the Brexit matter as you postulate political rhetoric on the political platform. But, no amount of promises to do, without the putting in place of controls that will prevent the plunder and pilfering from continuing will convince the electorate that you are serious.

Already you and your administration are being viewed as the other half of the dangerous dozen or simply the second six of the disgusting twelve that represents the entire whole.

Your greatest strength lies in what you will do, not what you feel you should say.

Your assertions only sound like mere words seeking to capitalise on the stupid decision of the British people duped by political persuasions under an out of control immigration system they could have better managed. That was the number one fuel for the Brexit decision.
However, if you are going to use that as an analogy, maybe you should consider more seriously why many Barbadians are delusional with our local politicians.
Is it because they want honest politicians, not tricky ones? They want politicians that speak the truth not those who can articulate well-polished lies and excuse coverups while they show the greatest disrespect for the Barbadian people in an insulting way.
Is it that they want transparency and accountability in government business operations or that they want the auditor general to have greater power to bring political thieves and public servant crooks to justice? Or maybe they want proper laws that would make it impossible for politicians to operate above them when they execute financial matters inappropriately.
You can play with the Brexit matter as you postulate political rhetoric on the political platform. But, no amount of promises to do, without the putting in place of controls that will prevent the plunder and pilfering from continuing will convince the electorate that you are serious.
Already you and your administration are being viewed as the other half of the dangerous dozen or simply the second six of the disgusting twelve that represents the entire whole.
Your greatest strength lies in what you will do, not what you feel you should say.

The system is obsolete. Human values is what’s at issue. Apart from being born again, a digital governance platform is our best bet. Regardless of the outcome, the Brexit referendum will prove to be invaluable.

The system is obsolete. Human values is what’s at issue. Apart from being born again, a digital governance platform is our best bet. Regardless of the outcome, the Brexit referendum will prove to be invaluable.

“” I came tonight to offer myself to you, to serve you, to give you my heart as I have always done, to be an honest, genuine person.” So said Kirk Humphrey – wannabe politician – who has just been declared the Barbados Labour Party candidate for the St Michael South constituency.

What a load of bollocks! Everyone should know by now that once elected politicians proceed to serve themselves and their cronies. As for honesty and genuineness, these virtues are alien to politicians.

There is a vacuum in Barbados politics. The would be politician in Barbados is either a wannabe, a never was or never will be. A politician has no functioning sense of shame. If you give him enough rope he would hang you. I think we need divine intervention or intervention from benevolent ETs”

“” I came tonight to offer myself to you, to serve you, to give you my heart as I have always done, to be an honest, genuine person.” So said Kirk Humphrey – wannabe politician – who has just been declared the Barbados Labour Party candidate for the St Michael South constituency.
What a load of bollocks! Everyone should know by now that once elected politicians proceed to serve themselves and their cronies. As for honesty and genuineness, these virtues are alien to politicians.
There is a vacuum in Barbados politics. The would be politician in Barbados is either a wannabe, a never was or never will be. A politician has no functioning sense of shame. If you give him enough rope he would hang you. I think we need divine intervention or intervention from benevolent ETs”